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Astros reveal 50th anniversary logo and celebration plans for 2012

The Astros revealed their 50th anniversary logo during a media luncheon on Thursday, and over the course of 2012, this design will be the most identifiable symbol of the club’s celebration of its golden anniversary as a Major League franchise.

The party starts next year, but the Astros are kicking off the celebration this weekend with several commemorative 50th Anniversary promotional items to preview what’s to come.

On Friday, the first 10,000 fans will receive a 50th Anniversary Cap, presented by Conn’s. The first 10,000 fans on Saturday will receive a 50th Anniversary Blanket from AT&T, and a 50th Anniversary T-shirt will be presented
to the first 10,000 fans on Sunday, courtesy of BullShirts.

Here’s what’s in store for 2012:

Opening Weekend

The golden anniversary celebration will kick off in 2012 during the club’s Opening Day Weekend from April 6-8. The three-game weekend series vs. the Colorado Rockies will include 50th Anniversary promotional items and pregame ceremonies.

Game-Used Logo Items

During all Astros home games in 2012, the official lineup cards, base jewels and official game baseballs will each feature the 50th Anniversary logo.

Get Geared Up

Official 50th Anniversary merchandise, including a cap, polo shirt and T-shirt, will be on sale at the Astros Team Store beginning in December 2011.

50th Anniversary DVD

The Astros, along with Major League Baseball Productions and A&E Entertainment, are producing a documentary program on the 50 seasons of Astros baseball with a DVD scheduled for release next Spring. The film will highlight great moments in Astros history, including never-before-seen footage of historic milestones, and exclusive interviews with players that were key to the franchise’s success.

Flashback Fridays

During Friday home games in 2012, the Astros will wear a throw-back jersey that represents a certain era in the Houston franchise. Each month will highlight a new jersey from a different era. ‘Flashback Fridays’ will also include special ticket pricing, as well as pregame ceremonies, in-game entertainment and specially-themed Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Marathon Oil Corporation.

Alumni First Pitch

In a tribute to all players in franchise history, the Astros will be inviting various former Astros and Colt 45s players to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to select home games throughout the 2012 season.

Astros All-Time 25-Man Roster

In 2012, fans and a panel of experts will vote each month on an all-decade roster that will include a roster from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. From each decade’s roster, an Astros All-Time 25-man roster will be determined by online fan voting at astros.com.

Legends Weekend

The Astros All-Time 25-man roster will be revealed the final home weekend of the 2012 season as part of Legends Weekend from Sept. 22-24, 2012. Members of the Astros All-Time 25-man roster will be invited to Houston to take part in a pregame ceremony and other honorary activities. Specific details on the events will be announced at a later date.

Wish I could say that I love the new logo because it brings together many different eras of Astro baseball. Longtime Astro fans would be able to enjoy the yearlong celebration and throwback events.

But the dark cloud hanging over all this, the potential demotion to the American League, would erase the very history being celebrated. If Bud Selig succeeds in this effort, then, I can’t help but call this the perfect logo for the Astros final year in the National League – because it’s shaped like a tombstone.

Love the logo! And you were correct – it does have elements from all different eras in Houston baseball. Now to decide it I want to renew my season tickets again or not. On one hnad it’s been fun watching the young guys play, and play hard. On the other – it’s harder and harder to get people to split the tickets with.

Do we have to have an Anniversary campaign every two out of five years???
I’m staring at my “Collector Cup” which says “Houston Astros 45th Anniversary 1965 2010″ I think the team should pick one starting year and stick to it – in the mean time put a winning team on the field and get back to a Defending Pennant Champions logo!

The new Logo is very good for the Astros of 1965 to today, but it does not reflect the beginning years of the Team, Houston Colts 45’s for the years 1962, 1963 and 1964. After the completion of the Astrodome the team changed the name to Houston Astros and moved to the new Astrodome in April 1965. The new Logo has omitted the Colts 45’s and must include them to be reflective of the entire period 1962-2012 as it pretends to do. How is it that they have commited such a blonder??.I guesss that after developing an above average young good player like Hunter Pence and then give him away, anything can be explained.

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